Jalen Hooks is no stranger to playing against older competition. After taking on a big role as a freshman against a challenging schedule, the 6-foot-6 Hooks had a sense for what “playing up” looked like. But Hooks has upped the playing up ante this summer. Playing for the U17 EG10 AAU program operated by Eric Gordon, Sr. this summer, Hooks is now playing against rosters stacked with higher end talent mostly two years ahead of him in school. Hooks took on the challenge to accelerate his development. It’s a challenge that he wanted. But playing up two years comes with…
Author: Mike Schumann
You knew Michael Penix, Jr. was good when healthy as a redshirt freshman in 2019. But did you know he was this good? Advanced statistics released by Pro Football Focus (“PFF”) highlight just how effective Penix was when he was able to stay on the field during Indiana’s memorable 8-5 campaign. PFF teased their story on social media with this reminder of what is potentially in store for IU this fall — “Indiana might have one of the best teams in program history this year, and a big reason for that is QB Michael Penix Jr.” With the 2020 college…
South Bend, Ind. shooting guard Blake Wesley is one of the top guards on the board for IU in the class of 2021. In a podcast produced by Wesley’s Indy Heat AAU program over the weekend, Wesley discusses his early performance playing 5-on-5 this summer, strengths of his game, why he rolls up his shorts, and the latest with his recruitment. The 6-foot-5 Wesley led the South Bend area by averaging 26 points per game as a junior for Riley High School. Wesley is currently ranked No. 107 overall in the 2021 class according to the 247Sports Composite, and he…
Don’t cancel those Thanksgiving week plans. The 2020 Maui Invitational is proceeding as scheduled for now according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports. Rothstein provided the update on a Twitter post on Wednesday morning. https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1280852575038902273?s=20 It has been widely speculated that the event will be moved to the mainland due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals traveling to Hawaii have been subject to a 14-day quarantine upon arrival for several months. Hawaii Governor David Inge announced in late June that beginning August 1st travelers who have a valid negative COVID-19 test prior to arriving will not be subject to the 14-day…
Indiana offered class of 2021 Milwaukee based forward James Graham III a scholarship last week. A relatively late entrant into Graham’s recruitment, the Hoosiers will try to make a push. Graham is meeting virtually this week with the IU coaching staff according to Jake Weingarten of Stock Risers. The 6-foot-8 Graham led Nicolet High School in Milwaukee to a 22-3 record before the state playoffs were canceled due to the pandemic. Graham averaged 20.2 points per game and 6.6 rebounds while shooting 53 percent for the 2019-20 campaign. Below are video highlights and an interview with Graham, both from this…
Every day that Khristian Lander is in Bloomington this summer is a good day for Indiana’s 2020-21 basketball season. While Lander is a five-star recruit who oozes potential, the 6-foot-2 guard is still built like a kid about to enter his senior year of high school. That is, of course, because Lander should be entering his senior year of high school. IU basketball head coach Archie Miller was effusive in his praise for Lander when describing him on a recent podcast with radio voice Don Fischer. But he also voiced some caution. “He’s going to have to get physically ready…
For as long as people have been talking about the in-state class of 2022 high major prospects, Reggie Bass has been a player in the conversation. But the “in-state” description got a little complicated after his freshman year of high school. While Indiana is still home for the 6-foot-5 guard, Bass took a detour after spending year one at Muncie Central. Bass transferred to Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tenn. after his freshman season, and he is pleased with how his first year away from home played out. “I feel like I had a good season,” Bass told The…
“I’ll remember that day more than winning the national championship.” — Randy Wittman That is how important the return of former IU basketball head coach Bob Knight was to his former players. Four of his all-time best players joined a BTN zoom video conference to discuss Knight’s return. Listen to Indiana legends Mike Woodson, Quinn Buckner, Isiah Thomas and Wittman discuss Knight’s return to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall for an IU basketball game on February 8, 2020. The four discuss the weeks leading up to the big day, their impressions on how it went including behind the scenes moments, revisited…
The Daily Hoosier is teaming up with The Hoosier Experience podcast to bring you interviews with IU players, coaches and recruits. Westfield High School incoming junior and IU basketball recruiting target Braden Smith answered a wide range of questions with host Aidan Kunst. Playing for Westfield in the north Indianapolis suburbs 2019-20, Smith averaged 18.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game as a sophomore while shooting 39 percent from three-point range. Want us to share your interview with a current or former IU athlete, coach or recruit on our platform? Message us. Find us on Facebook: thedailyhoosier You can…
Bob Knight always had a large white U.S. mail basket on his desk. Like the kind you see at the post office. Why? “That was just how much mail he got,” former Indiana player and Knight assistant at Texas Tech Stew Robinson said. “Everyone is writing him, trying to find him. Every day he had this huge white basket of mail.” One day when they were sitting in Knight’s office at Texas Tech, the coaching legend caught Robinson off guard. “Your mother’s name was MaryAnne,” Knight said matter-of-factly to Robinson. By that time Robinson’s mother had passed away, and he…